Method for the operation of a self-driving motor vehicle

Abstract

A method and a system can include receiving travel direction information representing a planned driving maneuver of the motor vehicle, detecting at least one road user in a path region of the planned driving maneuver based on an evaluation of at least the travel direction information, determining a lamp operation data set for operating at least one lamp of the motor vehicle based on the evaluation of at least the travel direction information when a road user is detected in the path region, and operating the lamp in accordance with the lamp operation data set.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 receiving travel direction information representing a planned driving maneuver of a motor vehicle; 
 detecting at least one road user in a path region of the planned driving maneuver based on an evaluation of at least the travel direction information; 
 determining a lamp operation data set for operating at least one lamp of the motor vehicle based on the evaluation of at least the travel direction information when a road user is detected in the path region; and 
 operating the at least one lamp in accordance with the lamp operation data set, including activating the lamp according to an encoding of the travel direction information that indicates the planned driving maneuver including at least one of (a) a direction the vehicle will turn or (b) the vehicle being stationary. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein operating the at least one lamp further comprises modifying a luminous intensity of the at least one lamp, wherein the luminous intensity is specified by the lamp operation data set based on the encoding. 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein operating the at least one lamp further comprises modifying a lamp sequence of the at least one lamp, wherein the at least one lamp sequence is specified by the lamp operation data set based on the encoding. 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein operating the at least one lamp further comprises modifying a lighting direction of the at least one lamp, wherein the lighting direction is specified by the lamp operation data set based on the encoding. 
     
     
       5. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein operating the at least one lamp further comprises modifying a lighting color of the at least one lamp, wherein the lighting color is specified by the lamp operation data set based on the encoding. 
     
     
       6. A system comprising:
 a control device that includes software executable by the control device such that the control device is programmed to: 
 receive travel direction information representing a planned driving maneuver of a motor vehicle; 
 detect at least one road user in a path region of the planned driving maneuver based on an evaluation of at least the travel direction information; 
 determine a lamp operation data set for operating at least one lamp of the motor vehicle based on the evaluation of at least the travel direction information when a road user is detected in the path region; and 
 operate the at least one lamp in accordance with the lamp operation data set, including activating the lamp according to an encoding of the travel direction information that indicates the planned driving maneuver including at least one of (a) a direction the vehicle will turn or (b) the vehicle being stationary. 
 
     
     
       7. The system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the control device is programmed to operate the at least one lamp by modifying a luminous intensity of the at least one lamp, wherein the luminous intensity is specified by the lamp operation data set based on the encoding. 
     
     
       8. The system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the control device is programmed to operate the at least one lamp by modifying a lamp sequence of the at least one lamp, wherein the at least one lamp sequence is specified by the lamp operation data set based on the encoding. 
     
     
       9. The system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the control device is programmed to operate the at least one lamp by modifying a lighting direction of the at least one lamp, wherein the lighting direction is specified by the lamp operation data set based on the encoding. 
     
     
       10. The system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the control device is programmed to operate the at least one lamp by modifying a lighting color of the at least one lamp, wherein the lighting color is specified by the lamp operation data set based on the encoding. 
     
     
       11. An autonomous vehicle comprising:
 a control device that includes software executable by the control device such that the control device is programmed to:
 receive travel direction information representing a planned driving maneuver of the autonomous vehicle; 
 detect at least one road user in a path region of the planned driving maneuver based on an evaluation of at least the travel direction information; 
 determine a lamp operation data set for operating at least one lamp of the autonomous vehicle based on the evaluation of at least the travel direction information when a road user is detected in the path region; and 
 operate the at least one lamp in accordance with the lamp operation data set, including activating the lamp according to an encoding of the travel direction information that indicates the planned driving maneuver including at least one of (a) a direction the vehicle will turn or (b) the vehicle being stationary. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The autonomous vehicle as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the control device is programmed to operate the at least one lamp by modifying a luminous intensity of the at least one lamp, wherein the luminous intensity is specified by the lamp operation data set based on the encoding. 
     
     
       13. The autonomous vehicle as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the control device is programmed to operate the at least one lamp by modifying a lamp sequence of the at least one lamp, wherein the at least one lamp sequence is specified by the lamp operation data set based on the encoding. 
     
     
       14. The autonomous vehicle as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the control device is programmed to operate the at least one lamp by modifying a lighting direction of the at least one lamp, wherein the lighting direction is specified by the lamp operation data set based on the encoding. 
     
     
       15. The autonomous vehicle as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the control device is programmed to operate the at least one lamp by modifying a lighting color of the at least one lamp, wherein the lighting color is specified by the lamp operation data set based on the encoding.